Improving the magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 by heat treatment of the melt

The effect of the heat treatment of the melt on the magnetic properties of the nanocrystalline Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 alloys, obtained by controlled cry stallization of rapidly solidified ribbons, was studied by taking into acco unt the inheritance of the short range ordering present in the melt. Previo us viscosity measurements on liquid FeSiB alloys and X-ray diffraction resu lts in the literature reveal irreversible changes that take place in the me lt during heating. This behavior was assigned to temperature dependence of the short range ordering present in the melt. The crystallization of the am orphous alloy was investigated by DTA and X-ray diffraction. The influence of the melt heat treatment on the magnetic permeability, coercivity and sat uration magnetostriction was studied. (C) 1999 Acta Metallurgica Inc.